Who was Zebina in the bible?
Zebina is named once in a list “Of the sons of Nebo” in Ezra 10:43.
Group Context
Ezra 10:43 places him among “the sons of Nebo.” In the surrounding passage, “All these had taken foreign wives” (Ezra 10:44).
Learn More →Name Meaning
Strong’s H2081 relates the name Zebina to an unused root “meaning to purchase,” with the sense “gainfulness.”
Learn More →Zebina (an Israelite) is named among “the sons of Nebo” in Ezra’s list of men connected with the matter of foreign wives. The name is connected (by lexicon derivation) with an unused Hebrew root meaning “to purchase,” carrying the sense of “gainfulness.”
Zebina in Scripture
Zebina appears once, within a tightly grouped sequence of names in Ezra 10. The immediate context lists additional individuals, then identifies a subgroup “of the sons of Nebo,” where Zebina is included.
“Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,” (Ezra 10:41, WEB)
“Shallum, Amariah, Joseph.” (Ezra 10:42, WEB)
“Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah.” (Ezra 10:43, WEB)
In this chapter context, Zebina is not described with personal actions or speech; he is presented as one name in a catalog. The phrase “Of the sons of Nebo” situates Zebina within that named grouping, alongside Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Iddo, Joel, and Benaiah.
The setting of the list is clarified by the concluding statement that refers back to all the named men in the surrounding section. The narrative frame is that these individuals were among those who “had taken foreign wives,” and the situation included children in some cases.
“All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.” (Ezra 10:44, WEB)
Taken together, Ezra 10:41–44 presents a sequence of names culminating in the subgroup “sons of Nebo,” including Zebina, and then summarizes the shared circumstance of the entire set: foreign marriages, with children mentioned for some. Scripture provides no additional identifying details for Zebina beyond his inclusion in this list.
Name and Meaning
The Hebrew form of the name is זְבִינָא, transliterated Zebiyna’ and pronounced zeb-ee-naw’. Lexicon derivation traces it to an unused root meaning “to purchase,” with the associated sense of “gainfulness.”
Observation
Zebina is remembered in Scripture as part of the named group “Of the sons of Nebo” (Ezra 10:43) included among those of whom it is said, “All these had taken foreign wives” (Ezra 10:44).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Zebina mean?
Zebina means “gainfulness,” from a root meaning “to purchase.”
How many times does Zebina appear in the Bible?
Zebina appears 1 time.
Who was Zebina in the Bible?
Zebina is identified as an Israelite. He is named among “the sons of Nebo” in Ezra 10:43.
Where is Zebina mentioned?
Zebina is mentioned in Ezra 10:43.
Explore Further
If you found this page about Zebina interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
